Chair with backrest movable up and down and hardware therefor

ABSTRACT

This chair has a backrest which can be moved up and down between raised and lowered positions; and can be reclined to T.V. and fully reclined positions. A retractable footrest is also provided to be projected to T.V. position, and moved to fully reclined position. The raising and lowering of the backrest can only take place when the seat is in upright position under control of a handle operated by the person sitting in the chair, who must lean forward to get at the handle and thus move away from the backrest before the backrest is moved up or down. The backrest is locked down in the upright position, with the footrest retracted. Means is provided to lock the backrest in its up position. Also means is provided to lock the footrest mechanism in retracted position. Spring means is provided to assist in lifting the backrest. Means is provided to releasably lock the backrest in &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;up&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; position throughout the recline cycle. Means is provided to keep the handle from being operated to lower the backrest, when the backrest is in T.V. or fully reclined positions. The backrest and footrest are supported by mechanism disposed on both sides of the chair, such mechanism being controlled by handle controlled means on one side only of the chair.

United States Patent 1 Katz et al.

[ May 28, 1974 I 1 (:HAiR WITH BACKREST MOVABLE UP AND DOWN AND HARDWARE THEREFOR [75] Inventors: Alex J. Katz, West Orange; Robert J. Caldwell, Bayoone, both of NJ.

[73] Assignee: Moharcs Industries, Inc.,

Amsterdam, N.Y.

[22] Filed: Aug. 22, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 282,847

[52] U.S. Cl. 297/353, 297/85 [51] Int. Cl A47c l/02, A47c 3/02, A61g 15/00 [58] Field of Search 297/61, 68,69, 71, 85, 297/89, 353, 354-359 [56] I References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,978,013 4/1961 Mclntyre 297/353 X 2,992,855 7/1961 Mohler 297/353 3,243,327 3/1966 Katzw. 297/85 3,353,193 11/1967 Greiner 297/354 Primary Exar niner casmir A. Nunberg Attorney, Agent, or Firm l. -B. Felshin; Marvin Feldman [57] ABSTRACT This chair has a backrest which can be moved up and down between raised and lowered positions; and can be reclined to T.V. and fully reclined positions. A retractable footrest is also provided to be projected to T.V. position, and moved to fully reclined position. The raising and lowering of the backrest can only take place when the seat is in upright position under control of a handle operated by the person sitting in the chair, who must lean forward to get at the handle and thus move away from the backrest before the backrest is moved up or down. The backrest is locked down in the upright position, with the footrest retracted. Means is provided to lock the backrest in its up position. Also means is provided to lock the footrcst mechanism in retracted position. Spring means is provided to assist in lifting the backrest. Means is provided to releasably lock the backrest in up position throughout the recline cycle. Means is provided to keep the handle from being operated to lower the backrest, when the backrest is in T.V. or fully reclined positions. The backrest and footrest are supported by mechanism disposed on both sides of the chair, such mechanism being controlled by handle controlled means on one side only of the chair.

27 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PATENTED MAY 2 8 I974 MU I: BF 5 SHEET 5 Bf 5 PATENTEDIAY 28 Ian This invention relates to chairs with a backrest movable up and down. I

One object of this invention is to provide a chair of the character described having a backrest and means to raise and lower the backrest under control of a handle mounted on the chair frame.

Another object of this invention is to provide a chair of the character described in which the backrest is reclinable from upright to T.V. and fully reclined positions only while the backrest is in its up position.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a chair of the character described so constructed that the person sitting in the chair must lean forward to be out of contact with the backrest in order to reach and manipulate the handle to raise or lower the backrest.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a chair of the character described having a footrest, means to lock the footrest in retracted position, and means to lock the backrest in lowered position with the footrest retracted. 4

A further object of this invention is to provide in a chair of the character described,means to lock the backrest in raised position, to permit the backrest to be reclined to T.V. and fully reclined positions with the backrest in raised or up position, to project the footrest as the backrest is moved to T.V. position, and to incline the seat to fully reclined position as the backrest is moved from T.V. to fully reclined position.

Yet a further objectof this invention is to provide a chair of the character described having spring means to assist in raising the backrest.

A still further object of this invention is to provide,

in a chair of the character described, means to permit movement of the backrest supporting mechanism in unison while the backrest moves from upright to TV. and to fully reclined positions and vice-versa, without moving the handle control mechanism or disturbing the relative position of the linkage which supports the backrest, to thereby keep the backrest in the up position throughout the recline cycle, by isolating the parallelogram linkage which supports the backrest, from its primary drive system.

Still a further object-of this invention is to provide" means to prevent operation of the handle to' 'lower backrest, while the backrestis in TV. orv reclined positions. U i

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a chair of the character described'andlinkage mechanism and hardware therefor-which shall be strong, ruggedand durable, which shall 'be relatively inexpensive to manufacture, easy to manipulate and'which shall yet be practical, efficient and comfortable in use.

Other objects of this invention will in part be obvious and in part hereinafter pointed out. g

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter described and of which the scope of invention will be indicated in. the following claims.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevationalview of one side of a chair embodying the invention, with the backrest down and I in upright position, and with its footrest in retracted position; i

2 FIG. 2 shows the chair of FIG. 1 with the backrest in up position and upright and the footrest still in retracted position;

FIG. 3 shows the chair of FIG. 2 in T.V. position with the footrest projected;

FIG. 4 shows the chair of FIG. 3 in fully reclined position;

FIG. 5 is a partial rear view of the chair and linkages;

FIG. 6 is a partial bottom view of the linkages for the chair; and

FIG. 7 is a partial view of the backrest support mechanism at an opposite side of the chair.

Referring now in detail to the drawing, 10 designates a chair embodying the invention. Said chair comprises a chair frame 11 shown in dot-dash lines, and having a bottom base 12 mounted on front legs 13 and on rear legs 14. The chair frame 11 has a rear support 15 provided with a lower cross support member 16. The frame 11 also has side arms 17 (FIG. 5), a horizontal cross piece 18 and a vertical crosspiece 19.

Attached to the inside of each of the left and right side arms, in any suitable manner, is a fixed support plate 20 (FIG. 2), having an upper edge 21, a lower edge 22, a front edge 23, a rear edge 24 and a rear cutaway edge 25. Only the plate 20 on the right side of the chair is shown, and the view is from the inside of the chair looking to the right.

Pivoted to plate 20, as at 27, is a rear'bell crank 28 having a rear, downwardly extending arm 29 and a front forwardly extending arm 30. Pivoted to the lower end of arm 29, as at 31, is the rear end of link 32. The forward end of arm 30 is pivoted, as at 33, to an intermediate portion of a lever 34. The upper end of lever 34 is pivoted, as at 35, to a seat link 36. The lower end of lever 34 has a slot 37. A link 38 pivoted to plate 20, as at 39, carries a pin 40 which slides in slot 37.

Pivoted to plate 20, as at 41, is a front bell crank 42 having a rear, downwardly extending arm 43, the lower end of which, is pivoted, as at 44, to the front end of link 32. Front bell crank 42 has a forwardly extending arm 45 pivoted at its frontend, as at 46, to a bell crank 47. Bell crank 47 has an upwardly extending arm 48 pivoted at its upper end, as at 49, to the seat link 36. Bell crank 47 has arearwardly extending arm 50 pivoted at its rear end, as at 51, to the rear end of a footrest operating link 52. The seat link 36 extends forwardly of pivot 49. Pivoted to the front end of seat link 36, as at-54, is a lever 56 to which the front end of link 52 is pivoted, as at 57.'Pivoted to the bell crank 47, at the junction of arms 50, 48, as at 58, is a footrest link 59 which extends downwardly in theretracted position of the footrest, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawing. A lever 60 is pivoted at its lower end to the lower end of link 59, as at 61, and crosses lever 56 and is pivoted thereto as at 62. A stop 63 on lever 60 contacts an edge of lever 56 to limit retraction of the footrest. Pivoted to the lower end of lever 56, as at 64, is a link 65 which is pivoted to a'footrest member 66, as at 67. Footrest member 66' is pivoted, as at 68, to' the upper end of lever 60. The footrest linkage comprises a lazytong construction.

At the rear end of each seat link 36 is an upwardly extending arm 36a. Pivotedto'the upper ends of arms 36a, as at 70 are high-low mounting links 71 located on both sides of the chair. Back carrier links 72 are pivoted at their upper ends, as at 73, to arms 71a of the high-low mounting links 71. The lower end of the back carrier link on the right side of the chair, is connected, as by rivet 74, to the rear end of a primary bell crank pivot plate 75 and to plate on the right side of the chair. The other end of said pivot plate 75 is riveted, as at 75a, to plate 20. The lower end of the back carrier link on the left side of the chair is connected by rivet 74 directly to plate 20 on the left side of the chair.

The linkage, substantially as thus far described, except for pivot plate 75 is old and well known. In prior chairs, the mounting links (corresponding to the highlow mounting links 71 herein) were attached to a backrest of a lounger which backrest was hence pivoted to the seat links 36. In the present construction there is no backrest which is directly pivoted to the seat link. A backrest, to be described hereinafter, which can be moved up and down, takes the place of the pivoted backrests of previous well known loungers.

Only one side of the chair has been described, it being understood that both sides are similar and symmetrically disposed, as relates to linkages and hardware described to this point is well known and will not be described. It provides for projection and retraction of the footrest, and for movement of the seat links from the upright position of the chair to TV. position and from TV. position to fully reclined position and vice-versa, and ensuring that the parts go through T.V. position on the way from upright to fully reclined position, and from fully reclined position back to upright position, all as is well known in the art anddescribed and shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,243,226 issued Mar. 29, 1966 to A. J. Katz.

The seat of the chair (not shown) may be mounted on the seat links at opposite side of the chair in a conventional manner.

Pivoted to the outer side of plate 20 on the right side of the chair frame only, as on solid fixed rivet 80, is a fixed handle bracket reinforcement member 81. FIG. I shows the plate 20 and hardware thereon when looking at the right side of the frame from the inside of the chair. Hence the handle bracket reinforcement member 81 is located on the outside of said plate 20. Said member 81 has an arm 81a lying against plate 20 and receiving said rivet 80. Said arm is also attached to plate 20 by a shoulder rivet 81!) which also has a part slidably received in a short slot 82 ofa sequence release link 82a to be described in detail hereinafter.

Member 81 has an outwardly bent part 81c at the lower end of arm 81a, from which a vertical wall 81d extends downwardly. Said wall 81d has an arm 81c which is inclined upwardly and rearwardly in a vertical plane and is formed with a web 81f extending outwardly at right angles to arm 81e, and from which a flange 81g extends in a vertical plane.

Pivoted to flange 81g, in the manner hereinafter described. is a Z-shaped handle bracket 83. Said bracket 83 has a vertical flange 83a contacting flange 81g and pivoted thereto by a rivet 84. Extending outwardly at right angles to flange 83a is a web 83b, from which an arm 83c extends in a vertical plane.

Pivoted to plate 20, on a rivet 85 concentric with rivet 84, is a handle crank 86. The rivet 85 passes through an intermediate web portion 860 in member 86, which contacts the outer side of plate 20. Extending from web portion 86a of member 86, at right angles thereto is an arm 86b which contacts web 8312 of member 83 and is fixed thereto by a pair of fasteners 87.

Thus, members 83 and 86 rotate together about plate 20 and member 81 by reason of the concentric location of spaced pivoting rivets 84, 85. Extending upwardly from web 86a is an arm 86c. On an intermediate portion 86b of member 86, is a rivet 88 which is slidably received in a part circular slot 89 in link 82a. The center of curvature of slot 89 is at the axis of concentric rivets 84, to allow members 83, 86, to rotate through an angle defined by the angular extent of said slot 89, without moving the sequence release link 82a.

Fixed to arm 83c of member 83, as by fasteners 89a, is a handle which, in the retracted position of the footrest and the down position of the backrest (to be described hereinafter), projects forwardly of pivot rivet 84, as shown in FIG. 1, and which extends upwardly upon actuating the handle, as shown in FIG. 2.

The location of the axis of rivets 84, 85 is such that the person sitting in the chair will have to lean forwardly, away from the backrest (to be described hereinafter), in order to reach the handle to move it in a clockwise direction from the FIG. 1 position thereof, to the FIG. 2 position thereof, for raising the backrest (in the manner hereinafter explained), so that the sitter will not contact the backrest while it is being moved up or down. Hence the rivets 84, 85 are located near the forward end of plate 20.

The use of the two concentric rivets 84, 85 stabilizes the rotation of the handle because the two rivets are spaced apart and coaxial.

Pivoted to the seat link 36, between the pivot rivets 49 and 54, as at 91, is a high-low sequence link 92 extending downwardly therefrom and formed with a reversed L-shaped slot 93 having a longitudinal, elongated portion 93a from the lower end of which extends a short branch 93b in a forward direction. At its lower rear end, said link 92 has an inwardly curved edge 92b for the purpose hereinafter appearing.

Link 59, as shown in FIG. 2, is bell crank shaped and has two arms. Near the junction of the two arms is a rivet 94 passing through the offset branch portion 93b of the slot 93, when the footrest linkage is retracted, as shownin FIGS. 1, 2 of the drawing.

When the linkage is in the position of FIG. I, with the footrest retracted and the handle down and extending forwwardly, rivet 88 is at the rear end of slot 89 and rivet 81b is at the forward end of the short slot 82 of said link 820. In such position, link 92 is inclined downwardly and rearwardly from its pivot point, and its inwardly curved edge 92b contacts a pin 97 on the forward end of link 82a. A coil tension spring 98 interconnects upwardly extending arm 50a of bell crank 47, below pivot 49, with link 92, below pivot 91 and above slot 93. Pin 97 pressing against edge 92b of link 92, serves to keep rivet 94 in the short offset portion 93b of slot 93 to lock the footrest mechanism in retracted condition.

As the handle is swung up from the position of FIG. 1 t0 the position of FIG. 2, pin 88 moves through slot 89 to the forward end thereof, without moving the link 82a. After it reaches the forward end of slot 89, the link 82a is moved forwardly to cause pin 97 to swing link 92 in a clockwise direction, looking at FIG. 2, to move pin 94 to the lower end of longitudinal slot portion 93a, to release the footrest linkage for projection. During the forwardmovement of the link 82a by pin 88, rivet 81b v as at 100, is one end of an actuator link 101 which extends rearwardly. Pivoted to the rear end of said actuator link 101, as at 102, is one arm 103 of a primary bell crank 104. Said bell crank 104 has a second arm 105. Said bell crank is pivoted at the junction of arms 103, 105, as at 106 to an intermediate portion of said fixed primary bell crank pivot plate 75.

At the outer end of arm 105 of bell crank 104 is a rivet 107. Pivoted to rivet 107, is a primary drive link 108. In the position of FIG. 1, rivets 74, 107 are spaced from one another. In the positions of FIGS. 2, 3, 4, with the backrest in raised position, as will be described hereinafter, the rivets 74, 107 are concentric. The primary drive link 107 carries a rivet 109 at its upper end. In the position of FIG.l, rivets 109 and 73 are spaced apart. In the positions of FIGS. 2, 3, and 4, rivets 73, 109 are concentric. In such positions, the backrest is raised as will be described below.

The handle 90, handle bracket 83, handle bracket reinforcement 81, handle crank 86, sequence release link 82a, high-low sequence link 92, rivets 81b, 88, 97, 94, 91 as well as rivets 84, 85 and actuator link 101, primary bell crank 104, primary bell crank pivot plate 75 and primary drive link 108, exist on the right side of the chair, only. The pivot 109 at the upper end of the primary drive link, on the right sideof the chair, pivotally connects a secondary bell crank or toggle link 115 to said primary drive link. Said link 115 is pivoted as at 115a to high-low mounting link 71. Said secondary bell crank or toggle link 115 has divergent arms 116, 117. The pivot 109 is at the outer end of arm 116. Extending inwardly from the outer end of arm 117 is an elongated flange 118 to which one end of a transverse torque shaft or bar 119 is fixed as-by bolts 120 (FIGS. 1 and 5). At the left side of the chair, torque bar 119 is attached by bolts 121 to an elongated arm 122 of a toggle link 123. Said toggle link 123takes the place of the secondary bell crank 115 on the right side of the chair and has an arm 124 provided with a rivet 125 concentric with a rivet 127 on secondary bell crank or toggle link 115 and located at'the junction of arms 116,117 of said bell crank. (See FIGS. 1, 5 and 7). It will now be understood that the torque shaft 119 operatively connects toggle link 123 to secondary bell crank or'tog'gle link 115, being bolted securely to inwardly turned arms-of said toggle link 123, and secondary .bell crank or toggle link 115. I I

Pivoted to the high-lowmounting links 71, as at 130, are lower carrier links 131 which extend downwardly inthe FIG. 1 position of the linkage. At the lower ends of said lower carrier links 131 are pins 132 to which the lower ends of coil tension springs 133 are attached, for the purpose hereinafter appearing. Pivotedto said links 131, near the pins 132, asby means of rivets 135, are the lower ends of backrest mounting links 136 which extend upwardly. A pair of parallelside plates 137 of a backrest 138 are fixed to thebackrest mounting links 136, by means of screws, bolts]or other fastening devices passing through holes 139 in said mounting links.

rivet 129 of secondary bell crank or toggle link 115, on

one side of the chair, and to rivet 125 on toggle link 123 on the other side of the chair, are secondary drive links 145 which are pivoted, as at 146, to intermediate portions of links 140.

Fixed to the side plates 137 of the backrest and interconnecting the same are cross bars 150 provided with adaptor brackets 151 to which the upper ends of coil tension springs 133 are attached. A stop pin 155 on link 140 contacts one edge of link 145 in the FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 positions of the linkage.

The backrest side plates 137 have cut-outs 156 to allow the torque shaft 119 to pass through said plates from one side of the chair to the other. Any suitable backrest structure may be mounted on the front edges 137a of side plates 137, to provide a backrest against which the person sitting in the chair may lean.

The operation of the linkages will now be described. Starting with the down position of the backrest shown in FIG. 1. The backrest in such position is locked down by the rivet being above a center line through the rivets 84, 85 and 102. The recliner is locked in upright position by rivet 94 being in the forward leg 93b of the slot 93 in the high-low sequence link 92.

To raise the backrest, handle 90, handle bracket 83 and handle crank 86 are rotated together, manually, in a clockwise direction around pivots 84, 85. As the pin 88 travels through the curved slot 89 in the sequence release link 82a, said sequence release link and the high-low sequence link 92 remain motionless, keeping the recliner in upright position.

At the handle crank 86 rotates clockwise, it moves the actuator link 101 to the left by means of rivet 100. The actuator link 101, in turn, moves rivet 102 leftward, thus rotating the primary bell crank 104 counterclockwise around pivot point 106. This rotation of the primary bell crank 104 moves primary drive link 108 upward by means of rivet 107 until rivet 107 is concentric with rivet 74 and rivet 109 is concentric, with rivet 73 in the up position of the backrest 138. A stop pin 75b on bell crank pivot plates 75, stops rotation of the bell crank 104 in this position.

The upward movement of primary drive link 108 and rivet 109, rotates secondary bell crank or toggle link counterclockwise about rivets 115a which pivotally connect secondary bell crank or toggle link 115 and'toggle link 123 to the high-lowmounting links 71.

Steps in the following four paragraphs occur concurrently at both the right and left sides of the chair, thus imparting a bilateral lift to the backrest.

The secondary bell crank or toggle link 115 and the toggle link 123, by means of rivets 127, respec-' tively move secondary drive links 145, which in, turn rotate upper carrier links counterclockwise about pivotpoints 141 by means of rivets 146 until secondary drive links come to rest against limit stop pins 155, in the up position of the backrest 138. This rest position occurs concurrently with concentricity of rivets 74, 107 and 73,109. 1

Counterclockwise rotation of the upper carrier links 140 move backrest mounting links 136 upwardly by means of rivets 142, thus rotating lower carrier links 131 counterclockwise about .pivot points 130, by means of rivets 135. Lower carrier links 131 act as control links to complete the parallelograms which determine the angular position of the backrest relative to the seat links. 1

Helical springs 133 attached at one end to rivets 132 and at the other ends to brackets on the backrest frame 138 above rivets 132, assist in lifting the backrest by rotating lower carrier links 131 counterclockwise about pivot points 135.

As secondary drive links 145 approach their rest positions against limit stop pins 155, rivets 127 cross the common central line of rivets 115a, 146, thus creating a toggle for releasably locking the backrest 138 in the up position.

As rivet 127 crosses the common centerline of rivets 115a, 146, thus locking the backrest in up position, pin 88 on handle crank 86 reaches the end of curved slot 89 in sequence release link 82a and moves the sequence release link leftward (FIG. 2) on rivet 81b. Pin 97 on sequence release link 82a contacts the high-low sequence link 92 and rotates said link clockwise about pivot point 91, thus positioning rivet 94 in line with the long leg 93a ofthe slot 93 in high-low sequence link 92. Such action unlocks the recliner to permit the person sitting in the chair to press back on the backrest, to cause the footrest to be projected and also to cause the backrest, and the seat links to be reclined to T.V. position of FIG. 3.

ln T.V. position the locking members 34, 38 are in such position that the linkage can be moved from T.V. position to fully reclined position of FIG. 4 as explained in said U.S. Pat. No. 3,243,226.

The concentricity of rivets 107 and 74 and of rivets 109 and 73 in the up position of the backrest, allows primary drive link 108 and back carrier link 72 to move in unison while moving from upright to T.V. and fully reclined positions,and vice-versa, without disturbing the relative position of the parallelogramed links 131, 136, 115 (or 123), 140, 145, and 71. Said links 131, 136, 115 (or 123), 140, 145, and 71 are connected together and to the rivets 135 on link 72 and to rivet 109 on link 108. Since these two links 72 and 108 do not move relative to each other, links 131, 136, 115 (or 123), 140, 145 do not move relative to links 72, 108 and to one another during movement to T.V. and recline positions. Such arrangement keeps the backrest in the up position throughout the recline cycle, by isolating the high-low parallelogram from its primary drive system.

In the T.V. and fully reclined positions, the almost horizontal position ofthe primary drive link 108 (FlGS. 3 and 4) prevents rotation of the primary bell crank 104, and thus prevents operation of the crank handle 90 to keep the backrest in up position.

After the recline mechanism is returned to upright position, the second half of the high-low cycle i.e., from locked up position to locked down position, may be accomplished by reversing the sequence described above, which accompanies moving of the handle in a counterclockwise direction to-the horizontal position of FIG. 1 with the handle projecting forwardly of its pivot.

As the handle 90, handle bracket 83 and handle crank 86 begin to rotate in a counterclockwise direction around pivot points 84, 85, sequence release link 82a is allowed to move to the right (locking at FIG. 1), permitting sequence return spring 98 to rotate high-low sequence link 92 counterclockwise, thus engaging rivet 94 in the short leg 93b of slot 93 in the high-low sequence link 92, and locking the recliner in upright position.

When the backrest is in down position, handle is in a horizontal position forward of its axis, thus forcing the occupant of the chair to reach forwardly away from the backrest, and hence precluding resting his back against the backrest while trying to raise it. Also, as the handle is grasped in the up position and swung forwardly, the occupant of the chair must lean forward and away from the backrest to allow the backrest to move down without touching the back of the occupant.

Scabs in form of plywood, or other transverse supports or upholstering (not shown) may be attached to the front edges 137a of side walls 137, against which the back of the occupant of the chair leans when sitting upright, or pushing back on the backrest or lying back on the backrest in T.V. or fully reclined position.

It will thus be seen that there is provided an article in which the several objects of this invention are achieved, and which is well adapted to meet the conditions of practical use.

As possible embodiments might be made of the above invention, and as various changes might be made in the embodiments above set forth, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings, is to be interpreted as illustrative only.

I claim:

1. A chair comprising a base, seat means, a backrest, manually controlled means movably mounted on said base, means actuable by actuation of said manually controlled means, to move said backrest upwardly and downwardly relative to said seat means, means to connect said seat means to said base for movement from upright position to an inclined position, means to connect said backrest to said seat means and base for movement up and down relative to said seat means only in the upright position of said seat means, and for movement of said backrest to inclined position relative to said base, only when said backrest is in up position, and only together with movement of said seat means from upright to inclined position.

2. The combination of claim 1, a retractable and extensible footrest, means to movably connect said footrest to said seat means and base, means to lock said footrest in retracted condition when said seat means is in upright position, and to releasably lock said seat means in said upright position thereof, means to release said footrest for extension, upon moving said backrest upwardly from a down position thereof to an up position, in the upright position of said seat means, and to release said seat means for movement to inclined position, and means to recline'said backrest in the up position of the backrest, simultaneously with movement of said seat means to inclined position and projection of the footrest.

3. A chair comprising seat means, a backrest, means to move the backrest up and down relative to said seat means, and means manually actuable by the occupant of the chair to operate said means for moving the backrest upwardly and downwardly, a base, means to mount said manually actuable means on said base, and means to connect said seat means to said base for reclining movement relative thereto, means to connect said backrest to said base and to said seat means for reclining movement of said backrest relative to said base,

said manually actuable means comprising handle means pivotally mounted on said base and extending forwardly of its pivotal connection to said base, when said backrest is in a down position.

4. A chair comprising seat means, a backrest, manually controlled means, and means actuable by said manually controlled means, to move said backrest upwardly and downwardly relative to said seat means, a base, means to movably connect said seat means to said base, for movement from upright to inclined position, means to connect said backrest to said base and seat means for movement from upright to inclined positions, means to permit movement of said backrest upwardly or downwardly only when said seat means and backrest are in upright positions, and means to prevent movement of said seat means and backrest from upright to inclined positions unless said backrest has first been moved to its up position, means for locking said backrest in its up position, and means to prevent said backrest from being moved from upright to inclined position without first operating said means for moving said backrest upwardly.

5. Hardware for a chair comprising a seat link, a plate adapted to be fixed to the chair, link means movably connecting .said plate to said seat link, a primary bell crank pivoted to said plate, a primary drive link, pivoted to said primary bell crank, a back carrier link pivoted at one end to said plate, a high-low mounting link pivoted to the seat link, and to the other end of said back carrier link, a lower carrier link pivoted to said high-low mounting link, a backrest mounting link pivoted to said lower carrier link, a toggle link pivoted to said primary drive link and to said high-low mounting link, and an'upper carrier link pivoted to said backrest mounting link and to said high-low mounting link, and a secondary drive link pivoted to said toggle link,'and to said uppercarrier link.

6. The combination of claim 5, the pivotal connection between the primary bell crank and the primary drive link, being concentric with the pivotal connection of the back carrier link to said plate, and the pivotal connectionof said toggle link to said primary drive link, being concentric with the pivotal connection of the high-low mounting link to said back carrier link, in one position of said primary bell crank, when the backrest mounting link is raised, and the pivotal points of said concentric pairs of pivotal connections being offset, in another position of said primary bell crank, when said backrest mounting link is lowered. v

7. The combination of claim 6, and the pivotal connection of the said toggle link to said secondary drive link being located forward of the center link connecting the pivotal connection of said secondary'drive link to said upper carrier link, and the pivotal connection of said toggle link to said high-low mounting link, in said position of said primary bell crank. 1 v a 8. The combination of claim 5, and means to rotate said primary bell crank, comprising a handle pivoted to said plate, and an actuation link connecting said handle and to said primary bell crank.

9. Hardware for a chair, comprising a plate adapted to be attached tosaid chair, a seat link, link means connecting said seat link to. said plate for moving said seat link from upright to inclinedposition, extensible and retractable lazy-tong linkage connected to said link means and to said seat link, a handle pivoted to said plate and means controlled by said handle, to releasably lock said linkage in retracted position, and for locking said seat link-against movement from upright to reclining position, a crank on said handle, an actuator link pivoted to said crank, a primary bell crank pivoted to said plate, a backrest mounting link, means on said primary bell crank to raise and lower said backrest mounting link, the pivotal connection between the crank and said actuator link being above a center line passing through the pivotal connection of the handle to the plate, and the pivotal connection of said primary bell crank to said actuator link, when the primary bell crank is in position to hold said backrest mounting link in lowered position.

10. Chair hardware comprising, a plate adapted to be attached to a chair, a seat link, first link means to movably connect said seat link to said plate, a back carrier link pivoted to said plate, a high-low mounting link pivoted to said seat link and to said back carrier link, a lower carrier link pivoted to said high-low mounting link, a backrest mounting link pivoted to said lower carrier link, a toggle link pivoted to said high-low mounting link, a drive link pivoted to said toggle link, and an upper carrier link pivoted to said backrest mounting link, to said drive link and to said high-low mounting link.

11. The combination of claim 10, and limit stop means on said upper carrier link to limit rotation of said drive link relative to said upper carrier link in a position where the pivotal connection between said drive link and said toggle link is past a center line passing through the pivotal connection of said drive link to said upper carrier link and the pivotal connection of said toggle link to said high-low mounting link, to lock said backrest mounting link in one position thereof.

12 The combination of claim 10, and means to rotate said toggle link for raising said backrest mounting link.

13. The combination of claim 12, said means to ro- V tate said toggle link comprising a handle pivoted to said plate, and second link means connecting said handle to said toggle link to raise said backrest mounting link upon moving said handle in one direction.

14. The combination of claim 13, extensible and retractable lazy-tong footrest linkage means connected to said seat link and to said first link means, and means to lock said lazy-tong footrest linkage means in retracted position.

15. The combination of claim 14, said last mentioned lock means including means to lock said seat link against movement relative to said plate.

16. The combination of claim 10, and limit stop means, to hold said toggle link and drive link in position to lock said backrest mounting link in the raised position of said backrest mounting link.

17. The combination of claim 10, a member pivoted to said plate, another drive link pivoted to said pivoted member and also being pivoted to said toggle link, manually actuable means to rotate said pivoted member, the pivotal point of said back carrier link to said plate being concentric with the pivotal point of said another drive'link to said pivoted member, in one angular position of said pivoted member, and the pivotal point of said back carrier link to said high-low mounting plate being concentric with the pivotal point of said another drive link to said toggle link in said one angular position of said pivoted member.

18. Chair hardware comprising a pair of aligned plates adapted to be attached to opposite sides of a chair, a seat link at each side of the chair, first link means to connect each seat link to the plate on the same side of the chair, a back carrier link pivoted to each plate, a high-low mounting link pivoted to each seat link and to the back carrier link on the same side of the chair, a lower carrier link pivoted to each highlow mounting link, a backrest mounting link pivoted to each lower carrier link, a toggle link pivoted to each high-low mounting link, a drive link pivoted to each toggle link, an upper carrier link pivoted to each backrest mounting link, to the drive link on the same side of the chair and to the high-low mounting link on the same side of the chair, a transverse torque shaft attached at its ends to said toggle links on both sides of the chair, and means controlled by manually operable means on one side of the chair only, to rotate the toggle links on both sides of the chair through said transverse torque shaft.

19. The combination of claim 18, said means controlled by said means controlled by said manually operable means including a member pivoted to one of said plates, a handle pivoted to said one of said plates, an actuator link connecting said handle to said pivoted member, and another-drive link, pivoted to said pivoted member and to said toggle link on said one side of said chair.

20. The combination of claim 19, the pivotal point of said another drive link to said pivoted member, on said one side of said chair and the pivotal point of said back carrier link on said side of said chair to said plate being concentric in one angular position of said pivoted member, and the pivotal point of said back carrier link to said high-low link on said one side of said chair being concentric with the pivotal point of said another drive link to said toggle link on said one side of said chair, in said angular position of said pivotal member.

21. The combination of claim 20, said another drive link and back carrier link being movable in unison, upon reclining said seat link, without disturbing the relative positions of said lower carrier links, said backrest mounting links, said toggle links, said upper carrier links, said first mentioned drive links, and said high-low mounting links, to bring said another drive link to almost horizontal position to prevent rotation of said pivoted member, to thereby prevent operation of the handle when said seat link is in reclining position.

22. A chair comprising a frame, a support member fixed to said frame, a seat link, means to movably connect said seat link to said support member, a first link pivoted to said seat link, a chain of interpivoted links, means to pivotally connect the end links of said chain of links to spaced pivot points of said first link, a backrest mounted on a link of said chain of links other than the end links of said chain of links, a carrier link pivoted to said support member and to said first link, manually actuable means movably mounted on said support member, and means connected to said manually actuable means to raise and lower the link on which said backrest is mounted.

23. The combination of claim 22, said raise and lower means comprising a member pivoted relative to said support member, a primary drive link pivotally connected to said pivoted member, a toggle link pivoted to said first link, means to pivot said primary drive link to said toggle link, and a secondary drive link connecting the toggle link to one of the links in said chain of links.

24. The combination of claim 23, the pivotal point of said carrier link to said first link and the pivotal point of said primary drive link to said toggle link being coaxial, and the pivotal point of said carrier link to said support member and the pivotal point of said pivoted member to said primary drive link being coaxial, when said backrest mounting link is in its raised position.

25. Chair hardware comprising a support member adapted to be attached to the frame of a chair, a seat link, first link means to movably connect said seat link to said support member, a high-low mounting link pivoted to said seat link, a backrest mounting link, an upper carrier link connecting said backrest mounting link to said high-low mounting link, a lower carrier link connecting said backrest mounting link to said highlow mounting link, a manual handle pivoted to said support member, and means connecting said handle with said upper carrier link to raise said backrest mounting link when said handle is rotated in one direction and to lower said backrest mounting link when said handle is rotated in an opposite direction, and a back carrier link pivoted to said support member and to said high-low mounting link.

26. The combination of claim 25, said means connecting said handle to said backrest mounting link comprising a primary drive link, pivotal means to connect said primary drive link to said handle, a toggle link pivoted to said high-low mounting link and to said primary drive link, and a link connecting said toggle link to said upper carrier link.

27. The combination of claim 26, the pivotal point of said back carrier link to said support member being concentric with the pivotal point of said primary drive link to said pivoted means in one position of said primary drive link, and the pivotal point of said back carrier link to said high-low mounting link being concentric with the pivotal point of primary drive link with said toggle link in said one position of said primary drive link. 

1. A chair comprising a base, seat means, a backrest, manually controlled means movably mounted on said base, means actuable by actuation of said manually controlled means, to move said backrest upwardly and downwardly relative to said seat means, means to connect said seat means to said base for movement from upright position to an inclined position, means to connect said backrest to said seat means and base for movement up and down relative to said seat means only in the upright position of said seat means, and for movement of said backrest to iNclined position relative to said base, only when said backrest is in up position, and only together with movement of said seat means from upright to inclined position.
 2. The combination of claim 1, a retractable and extensible footrest, means to movably connect said footrest to said seat means and base, means to lock said footrest in retracted condition when said seat means is in upright position, and to releasably lock said seat means in said upright position thereof, means to release said footrest for extension, upon moving said backrest upwardly from a down position thereof to an up position, in the upright position of said seat means, and to release said seat means for movement to inclined position, and means to recline said backrest in the up position of the backrest, simultaneously with movement of said seat means to inclined position and projection of the footrest.
 3. A chair comprising seat means, a backrest, means to move the backrest up and down relative to said seat means, and means manually actuable by the occupant of the chair to operate said means for moving the backrest upwardly and downwardly, a base, means to mount said manually actuable means on said base, and means to connect said seat means to said base for reclining movement relative thereto, means to connect said backrest to said base and to said seat means for reclining movement of said backrest relative to said base, said manually actuable means comprising handle means pivotally mounted on said base and extending forwardly of its pivotal connection to said base, when said backrest is in a down position.
 4. A chair comprising seat means, a backrest, manually controlled means, and means actuable by said manually controlled means, to move said backrest upwardly and downwardly relative to said seat means, a base, means to movably connect said seat means to said base for movement from upright to inclined position, means to connect said backrest to said base and seat means for movement from upright to inclined positions, means to permit movement of said backrest upwardly or downwardly only when said seat means and backrest are in upright positions, and means to prevent movement of said seat means and backrest from upright to inclined positions unless said backrest has first been moved to its up position, means for locking said backrest in its up position, and means to prevent said backrest from being moved from upright to inclined position without first operating said means for moving said backrest upwardly.
 5. Hardware for a chair comprising a seat link, a plate adapted to be fixed to the chair, link means movably connecting said plate to said seat link, a primary bell crank pivoted to said plate, a primary drive link, pivoted to said primary bell crank, a back carrier link pivoted at one end to said plate, a high-low mounting link pivoted to the seat link, and to the other end of said back carrier link, a lower carrier link pivoted to said high-low mounting link, a backrest mounting link pivoted to said lower carrier link, a toggle link pivoted to said primary drive link and to said high-low mounting link, and an upper carrier link pivoted to said backrest mounting link and to said high-low mounting link, and a secondary drive link pivoted to said toggle link, and to said upper carrier link.
 6. The combination of claim 5, the pivotal connection between the primary bell crank and the primary drive link, being concentric with the pivotal connection of the back carrier link to said plate, and the pivotal connection of said toggle link to said primary drive link, being concentric with the pivotal connection of the high-low mounting link to said back carrier link, in one position of said primary bell crank, when the backrest mounting link is raised, and the pivotal points of said concentric pairs of pivotal connections being offset, in another position of said primary bell crank, when said backrest mounting link is lowered.
 7. The combination of claim 6, and the pivotal connecTion of the said toggle link to said secondary drive link being located forward of the center link connecting the pivotal connection of said secondary drive link to said upper carrier link, and the pivotal connection of said toggle link to said high-low mounting link, in said position of said primary bell crank.
 8. The combination of claim 5, and means to rotate said primary bell crank, comprising a handle pivoted to said plate, and an actuation link connecting said handle and to said primary bell crank.
 9. Hardware for a chair, comprising a plate adapted to be attached to said chair, a seat link, link means connecting said seat link to said plate for moving said seat link from upright to inclined position, extensible and retractable lazy-tong linkage connected to said link means and to said seat link, a handle pivoted to said plate and means controlled by said handle, to releasably lock said linkage in retracted position, and for locking said seat link against movement from upright to reclining position, a crank on said handle, an actuator link pivoted to said crank, a primary bell crank pivoted to said plate, a backrest mounting link, means on said primary bell crank to raise and lower said backrest mounting link, the pivotal connection between the crank and said actuator link being above a center line passing through the pivotal connection of the handle to the plate, and the pivotal connection of said primary bell crank to said actuator link, when the primary bell crank is in position to hold said backrest mounting link in lowered position.
 10. Chair hardware comprising, a plate adapted to be attached to a chair, a seat link, first link means to movably connect said seat link to said plate, a back carrier link pivoted to said plate, a high-low mounting link pivoted to said seat link and to said back carrier link, a lower carrier link pivoted to said high-low mounting link, a backrest mounting link pivoted to said lower carrier link, a toggle link pivoted to said high-low mounting link, a drive link pivoted to said toggle link, and an upper carrier link pivoted to said backrest mounting link, to said drive link and to said high-low mounting link.
 11. The combination of claim 10, and limit stop means on said upper carrier link to limit rotation of said drive link relative to said upper carrier link in a position where the pivotal connection between said drive link and said toggle link is past a center line passing through the pivotal connection of said drive link to said upper carrier link and the pivotal connection of said toggle link to said high-low mounting link, to lock said backrest mounting link in one position thereof.
 12. The combination of claim 10, and means to rotate said toggle link for raising said backrest mounting link.
 13. The combination of claim 12, said means to rotate said toggle link comprising a handle pivoted to said plate, and second link means connecting said handle to said toggle link to raise said backrest mounting link upon moving said handle in one direction.
 14. The combination of claim 13, extensible and retractable lazy-tong footrest linkage means connected to said seat link and to said first link means, and means to lock said lazy-tong footrest linkage means in retracted position.
 15. The combination of claim 14, said last mentioned lock means including means to lock said seat link against movement relative to said plate.
 16. The combination of claim 10, and limit stop means, to hold said toggle link and drive link in position to lock said backrest mounting link in the raised position of said backrest mounting link.
 17. The combination of claim 10, a member pivoted to said plate, another drive link pivoted to said pivoted member and also being pivoted to said toggle link, manually actuable means to rotate said pivoted member, the pivotal point of said back carrier link to said plate being concentric with the pivotal point of said another drive link to said pivoted member, in one angular position of said Pivoted member, and the pivotal point of said back carrier link to said high-low mounting plate being concentric with the pivotal point of said another drive link to said toggle link in said one angular position of said pivoted member.
 18. Chair hardware comprising a pair of aligned plates adapted to be attached to opposite sides of a chair, a seat link at each side of the chair, first link means to connect each seat link to the plate on the same side of the chair, a back carrier link pivoted to each plate, a high-low mounting link pivoted to each seat link and to the back carrier link on the same side of the chair, a lower carrier link pivoted to each high-low mounting link, a backrest mounting link pivoted to each lower carrier link, a toggle link pivoted to each high-low mounting link, a drive link pivoted to each toggle link, an upper carrier link pivoted to each backrest mounting link, to the drive link on the same side of the chair and to the high-low mounting link on the same side of the chair, a transverse torque shaft attached at its ends to said toggle links on both sides of the chair, and means controlled by manually operable means on one side of the chair only, to rotate the toggle links on both sides of the chair through said transverse torque shaft.
 19. The combination of claim 18, said means controlled by said means controlled by said manually operable means including a member pivoted to one of said plates, a handle pivoted to said one of said plates, an actuator link connecting said handle to said pivoted member, and another drive link, pivoted to said pivoted member and to said toggle link on said one side of said chair.
 20. The combination of claim 19, the pivotal point of said another drive link to said pivoted member, on said one side of said chair and the pivotal point of said back carrier link on said side of said chair to said plate being concentric in one angular position of said pivoted member, and the pivotal point of said back carrier link to said high-low link on said one side of said chair being concentric with the pivotal point of said another drive link to said toggle link on said one side of said chair, in said angular position of said pivotal member.
 21. The combination of claim 20, said another drive link and back carrier link being movable in unison, upon reclining said seat link, without disturbing the relative positions of said lower carrier links, said backrest mounting links, said toggle links, said upper carrier links, said first mentioned drive links, and said high-low mounting links, to bring said another drive link to almost horizontal position to prevent rotation of said pivoted member, to thereby prevent operation of the handle when said seat link is in reclining position.
 22. A chair comprising a frame, a support member fixed to said frame, a seat link, means to movably connect said seat link to said support member, a first link pivoted to said seat link, a chain of interpivoted links, means to pivotally connect the end links of said chain of links to spaced pivot points of said first link, a backrest mounted on a link of said chain of links other than the end links of said chain of links, a carrier link pivoted to said support member and to said first link, manually actuable means movably mounted on said support member, and means connected to said manually actuable means to raise and lower the link on which said backrest is mounted.
 23. The combination of claim 22, said raise and lower means comprising a member pivoted relative to said support member, a primary drive link pivotally connected to said pivoted member, a toggle link pivoted to said first link, means to pivot said primary drive link to said toggle link, and a secondary drive link connecting the toggle link to one of the links in said chain of links.
 24. The combination of claim 23, the pivotal point of said carrier link to said first link and the pivotal point of said primary drive link to said toggle link being coaxial, and the pivotal point of said caRrier link to said support member and the pivotal point of said pivoted member to said primary drive link being coaxial, when said backrest mounting link is in its raised position.
 25. Chair hardware comprising a support member adapted to be attached to the frame of a chair, a seat link, first link means to movably connect said seat link to said support member, a high-low mounting link pivoted to said seat link, a backrest mounting link, an upper carrier link connecting said backrest mounting link to said high-low mounting link, a lower carrier link connecting said backrest mounting link to said high-low mounting link, a manual handle pivoted to said support member, and means connecting said handle with said upper carrier link to raise said backrest mounting link when said handle is rotated in one direction and to lower said backrest mounting link when said handle is rotated in an opposite direction, and a back carrier link pivoted to said support member and to said high-low mounting link.
 26. The combination of claim 25, said means connecting said handle to said backrest mounting link comprising a primary drive link, pivotal means to connect said primary drive link to said handle, a toggle link pivoted to said high-low mounting link and to said primary drive link, and a link connecting said toggle link to said upper carrier link.
 27. The combination of claim 26, the pivotal point of said back carrier link to said support member being concentric with the pivotal point of said primary drive link to said pivoted means in one position of said primary drive link, and the pivotal point of said back carrier link to said high-low mounting link being concentric with the pivotal point of primary drive link with said toggle link in said one position of said primary drive link. 